Chapter 44

Almara

The next two months passed by in a blur. It was full of work, wedding planning, and hospital visits. It was an endless cycle of wash, rinse, and repeat. To be honest, it was mostly a blur. I could barely remember the specifics other than the baby was doing fine.

Arthur had been a godsend throughout the whole thing. I had unfortunately developed debilitating morning sickness halfway through my second month. There was hardly a time where I wasn’t running for the toilet. It had started to hinder my work so Arthur had hired an assistant for me.

Thankfully I only needed her for a short while, but Arthur insisted she stay on in case the morning sickness came back. But for now she was just in the background, like Kaylee.

Arthur had also been going to each and every hospital visit. Even when he didn’t need to. His excitement for the baby was contagious and I was finally in a good place about the pregnancy. Maybe if I couldn’t be its mother, I could at least be a family friend or something. Maybe I didn’t need to remove myself entirely from the baby’s life.

I hadn’t brought it up with Arthur just yet, though. I couldn’t bring myself to face the heartbreak in case he said no.

We were currently at the hospital for another checkup. This one was going to be a bit more exciting though. We were going to find out the gender of the baby.

I had asked Arthur if he was hoping for a boy or a girl. He’d said it didn’t matter. He only cared that the baby was healthy and happy. I obviously didn’t have a preference either.

I rested my hands on my belly as we waited for the doctor. Even though I couldn’t feel the baby’s movements yet, I thought I could sense its energy. If I concentrated, a little spark of warmth would warm my hands.

Arthur covered my hand with one of his and shut his eyes. A soft smile formed on his lips. Whenever he did this, I was always stunned by his beauty. Arthur only really ever let his guard down during these quiet moments to ourselves.

The doctor chose then to come into the room, his familiar clipboard in his hand. “Hello, Alpha, Ms. Almara! How are we doing today?”

“Good. My morning sickness hasn’t come back so far so I’ve been feeling much better,” I told him, bringing my shirt up in preparation for the ultrasound.

“Good, good. Wolf pregnancies can be much tougher than human ones so I’m glad that you’ve been lucky so far,” the doctor said and I had to laugh. He called that lucky? I felt like I was going to die.

“So, we’re here to learn about the gender of the baby. Do you want me to tell you right away or do you want to keep it a secret? Are you planning on a gender reveal because I can always put the result in an envelope.”

I glanced over at Arthur. We hadn’t really discussed it that much. Since the baby was going to be the next heir, it was a big deal for the pack. They were going to want to make a spectacle of it. So a gender reveal was going to happen, but were we going to find out today or wait for the rest of the pack?

“If it’s okay with you, little wolf, I’d like to find out today. I want to experience this moment with you,” Arthur said and the way he was looking at me made my heart beat faster. Ever since that day that Noah came over, hed’ make little comments like that. Almost like he felt the same way about me that I did about him. But that was impossible.

Because he does, you idiot. If you’d open your eyes, you’d see it. But you’re being stubbornly blind. Just like you were with Robert, Lily snapped and I was shocked by the amount of venom in her voice. She’d never really spoken to me like that before.

I shook it off. I’d talk to her about it later. Right now I was just going to focus on the baby. That’s what was most important.

I winced as the doctor squirted the cold jelly onto my belly before rubbing the ultrasound transducer across it. I stared at the black and white screen on the monitor like I could actually somehow read it before he did.

“Ah, there it is. Are you sure you want to know?” the doctor asked and we both nodded our heads enthusiastically.

The doctor smiled at us. “Congratulations. You’re having a little luna.”

I stopped breathing. A girl. We were having a little girl. Flashes of playing dress up, brushing her hair, ballet performances…It was almost like a bucket of ice water was dumped on me. I couldn’t be having these thoughts. Sofia would be her mother, not me.

Tears burned my eyes and I couldn’t keep them from falling. Arthur rubbed them away with the pads of his thumb, bringing my attention to him.

The look on his face made the tears fall faster. He was gazing at me in awe and wonder. It was almost worshipful. He drew me into a brief and gentle kiss. My heartbeat stuttered and I could almost believe Lily when she said he loved me. Who kissed someone they didn’t love like that?

“We’re having a girl,” he whispered against my lips and my breath hitched at the word “we’re.” That implied that we were going to be the parents. Not him and Sofia. Us.

The question was on the tip of my tongue. “Arthur…” but before I could even ask, his phone suddenly rang. I nearly jumped out of my skin. Arthur took one look at the screen and pressed his lips together in a thin line.

“I’m sorry, little wolf. I have to take this. If you’ll excuse me,” then he was gone out the door, leaving me alone with the doctor.

“I know it might not be my place to say this, but I’ve known Alpha Arthur for his entire life. Literally. I’m the one who delivered him. But I’ve never seen him look at anyone the way he does you. He’s completely besotted,” the doctor said, amusement glittering in his baby blue eyes, his wizened face crinkling as he gave me a wide smile. The color over his head turned a deep yellow. He was really happy for us, which meant he believed what he was saying.

I told you! Lily crowed and warmth bloomed in my chest. If even the doctor was saying it, maybe it was true. Maybe Arthur really did love me. Maybe I wouldn’t lose him or the baby when this was all over.

That warmth flowed from my chest to the rest of my body. I happily wiped the jelly away from my stomach and pulled my shirt down. I practically bounced off the sonogram chair as I made my way to the door.

I’d made up my mind. I was going to tell Arthur how I really felt. And if he rejected me at least I wouldn’t have to wonder about it anymore. I could start making plans again. Either I was going to be the wife and mother permanently or I was not. Either way, as soon as I opened that door, that would be it.

A dizzying rush of nervousness swept through me as I pulled the door open. But when I stepped outside, no one was there. Arthur’s scent was there, but faint. He must not have lingered. Whatever the phone call was about must have been important, otherwise I didn’t think he would have left without telling me.

I looked at Kaylee and she just shrugged her shoulders. I guess she wasn’t privy to that information. Oh well. I would just have to tell him at home. Hopefully I didn’t lose my nerves before then.